Fiji Airports seeks $2.3B to upgrade ageing Nadi Airport

Fiji Airports needs $2.3 billion over 10 years to modernise Nadi International Airport as critical infrastructure reaches dangerous age limits.

This is according to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence review of Fiji Airports' 2022 Annual Report tabled in Parliament this month.

The report revealed that essential airport equipment including aerobridges, belt systems and scanning machines were severely outdated at 25-30 years old.

“Critical airport infrastructure was severely outdated, exceeding their intended lifespans,” the committee found during its review tabled in Parliament in July.

The massive modernisation project faces funding challenges despite strong support from international institutions like the World Bank and International Finance Corporation.

The committee recommended the government prioritise replacing ageing airport assets and accelerate delayed capital projects through blended financing models and public-private partnerships.

The committee noted that many capital projects were postponed in 2020 to preserve cash flow during the COVID-19 pandemic, causing further deterioration of critical infrastructure.

Nadi International Airport serves as Fiji’s flagship gateway, facilitating nearly one million passengers annually before the pandemic and supporting over 100,000 aircraft movements within its Flight Information Region.

The airport connects Fiji to 15 cities internationally through 20 airlines and handles over 1.3 million tons of freight annually.

“This fund should leverage existing international support and explore blended financing models to ensure timely implementation,” the report stated.

The committee warned that further delays could lead to more deterioration of infrastructure essential for Fiji's tourism-dependent economy.

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